Foam sport ball with integral light source

ABSTRACT

A ball comprising a body having a channel and a compartment formed therein and a light source disposed within the channel.

BACKGROUND

Foam sport balls are popular toys; however it is well known that their usefulness is limited by their visibility. Thus, what is needed is a foam sport ball having an integrated light source that can withstand the forces such a ball is typically exposed to without sacrificing functional characteristics such as weight and aerodynamics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present foam sport ball with an integral light source;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present foam sport ball with an integrated light source;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram depicting aspects of a non-limiting, exemplary electrical circuit suitable for use with at least some embodiments of the present foam sport ball with integral light source; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present foam sport ball with an integrated light source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of the present patent specification is a conceptual foam sport ball featuring an integral light source (the “present foam sport ball”), which pertains to the art of consumer-product conception, design, and manufacture, particularly as it relates to sports-related toys. Pursuant to the patent laws of the United States, this Detailed Description of the present patent specification, in conjunction with the complete disclosure of the accompanying drawings briefly described above, describes various illustrative embodiments of the present foam sport ball. These specific illustrative embodiments provide persons having ordinary skill in the art a full, clear, and concise written description of the broader concept of the present foam sports ball, thereby enabling such an ordinarily skilled person to make and use all of the possible embodiments of the present foam sport ball, even though all such embodiments are not explicitly described in the present section.

However, as is required by law, neither this written description, nor the referenced drawings, defines the full scope of the present foam sports ball to which its inventor claims exclusive rights; that is the exclusive role of the Claims which conclude this patent specification. Accordingly, persons of ordinary skill in the art should not read this Detailed Description to limit the scope of the present foam sports ball, nor to imply any preference of the described embodiments over any other embodiment, unless such a limitation or preference is explicitly identified herein. For example, in the non-limiting embodiments described below, a cavity or compartment is formed near the surface of the ball for storing a power source such as a battery. However, the claims do not define a ball limited to having such a compartment formed near the ball's surface.

FIGS. 1A and 1B depict exemplary embodiments of the present foam sport ball with integral light source. A ball 100, having the shape of a prolate spheroid, e.g. a ball in general conformance with the rules of American football, in FIG. 1A and a more generic spherical ball shape in FIG. 1B, has a body 104 with a channel 108 and a cavity 112 formed therein. The cavity 112 may substantially abut a section of the channel 108. The cavity 112 contains a storage unit 116 having a battery compartment 118 and a switch 120. The battery compartment 118 includes terminals (not shown) positioned for accepting a battery, or equivalent charge delivering device, for providing power to other electrical components of the ball 100. When present, the battery and switch 120 will form two components of an electrical circuit (as depicted in FIG. 3). A third component of the circuit, a flexible light emitting diode (“LED”) strip 122 is disposed within said channel 108. The flexible LED strip may include an LED 124, a retaining clip 126 and a flexible plastic member 128.

The flexible plastic member 128 acts as a transmission medium for light emitted by the LED 124. When a battery is present and the switch 120 is in an “on” position, the LED will illuminate causing light waves to propagate through the flexible plastic member. Some portion of the light will escape the member 128 rather than continue to propagate within it, causing the entire length of the member to illuminate from within.

FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional area of an exemplary embodiment of the present foam sport ball with integral light source 200, such as the ball depicted in FIG. 1A and/or in FIG. 1B. The ball 200, has a body 204 with a channel 208 and a cavity 212 formed therein. The body 204 may be composed of a spongy cellular material, such as polyurethane foam, and may also have polyurethane cover (not shown), which may be textured or be given other functional and/or ornamental features such as laces or other designs (not shown). The cavity 212 contains a storage unit 216 for holding a battery 218. The channel 208 may extend around a circumference of the ball 200, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, or it may take another path, as depicted by way of non-limiting example in FIG. 4. The flexible plastic member 228 may extend from one end of the retaining clip 226 around the circumference of the body 204 and join with an opposing end of the retaining clip 226.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary electrical circuit 300 suitable for use with embodiments of the present foam sport ball with integrated light source. The battery 318 is in serial electrical charge communication with a resistor 319, which in turn is in serial electrical charge communication with a switch 320, which in turn is in serial electrical charge communication with an LED 324, which is also in serial electrical charge communication with the battery 318. When the switch 320 is in the open position, the electrical circuit 300 is open and inactive. When the switch is an a closed position (not shown), current is allowed to flow from the battery, through the resistor 319, through the switch, through the light emitting diode 324, before returning to the battery 318. As charge carriers pass through the LED 324, energy is released in the form of photons, causing the LED 324 to emit light.

Exemplary illustrative embodiments of the present foam sport ball have been described in detail above and in the accompanying figures for descriptive purposes. However, as noted above, the scope of the present foam sport ball is defined by the claims below and is not limited to the embodiments described above or depicted in the figures. Accordingly, the claimed ball encompasses all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter as permitted by applicable law. Embodiments differing from those described and shown herein, but still within the scope of the ball defined by the various claims below, are envisioned by the inventor and will be apparent to persons having ordinary skill in the relevant art in view of this specification as a whole. For example, FIG. 4 depicts ball 400 having a channel 408 and flexible LED strip 424 having a non-circumferential path around the ball 400. Further, the flexible LED strip 424 may contain multiple LEDs (not shown) of varying colors and electrical circuitry (not shown) permitting the color of light emitted by the ball to vary, either automatically or at the direction of a user. Additionally, the electrical circuit may contain sensors or other components which permit activation of the circuit through other means than a manual switch, such via experiencing acceleration, an impact force, etc. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A ball comprising a body having a channel and a compartment formed therein and a light source disposed within said channel.
 2. The ball of claim 1, wherein said ball generally defines a prolate spheroid.
 3. The ball of claim 1, wherein said ball generally defines a sphere.
 4. The ball of claim 1, wherein said body is substantially made up of polyurethane foam.
 5. The ball of claim 1, wherein said light source is a flexible light emitting diode (LED) strip.
 6. The ball of claim 1, wherein said body is formed with a passage connecting said channel with said compartment and further comprising at least one electrical conductor disposed within said passage having first and second ends, said first end being connectable to said light source, and at least one terminal connector connected to said second end, said at least one terminal connector being connectable to a terminal on a power source for said light source.
 7. The ball of claim 6, further comprising a power source having at least one terminal and being disposed in said compartment, said power source being connectable to said at least one terminal connector. 